Q. Thinking about the Australian troops in Afghanistan, do you think Australia should –

21 Jun 2010

9 May 2011

21 Nov 2011

19 Mar 2012

This week 10 Sept 2012

Vote Labor

Vote Lib/Nat

Vote Greens

Increase the number of troops in Afghanistan

7%

6%

3%

4%

4%

5%

6%

3%

Keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan

24%

36%

22%

22%

23%

23%

27%

20%

Withdraw our troops from Afghanistan

61%

48%

64%

64%

62%

60%

58%

65%

Don’t know

8%

11%

11%

10%

11%

12%

9%

12%

There is little change in respondents’ positions on troops in Afghanistan. Compared to the last time the question was polled six months ago in March 2012, 4% still believe that we should increase the number of troops. Belief that we should maintain the same number of troops increased 1% to 23% and belief that we should withdraw troops fell just 2 points from 64% in March 2012 to 62%.

Looking at the results by voting intention, Coalition voters were the most in favour of maintaining troop numbers (27%) compared to Labor voters (23%) and Greens voters (20%). Greens voters were the most likely to want to withdraw troops from Afghanistan (65%) when compared with Labor voters (60%) and Coalition voters (58%).

Q. Thinking about the Australian troops in Afghanistan, do you think Australia should –

25 Oct 2010

Total

Vote Labor

Vote Lib/Nat

Vote Greens

Increase the number of troops in Afghanistan

10%

5%

7%

6%

1%

Keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan

30%

30%

26%

39%

16%

Withdraw our troops from Afghanistan

47%

56%

62%

48%

74%

Don’t know

14%

9%

5%

7%

9%

35% think that the Australian troops in Afghanistan should be increased or maintained and 56% think Australia should withdraw its troops. This is a significant shift (+9%) in favour of withdrawal since this question was last asked in October 2010.

62% of Labor voters and 74% of Greens voters support withdrawal. Liberal/National voters are split – 48% support withdrawal and 45 support increasing/maintaining troop numbers.

Males were more likely than females to state that Australia should increase the number of troops in Afghanistan (9% compared to 2% of females) or keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan (36% compared to 24% of females).

However, the majority of both males (49%) and females (63%) think Australia should withdraw troops from Afghanistan.

Q. Thinking about the Australian troops in Afghanistan, do you think Australia should –

Total

Vote Labor

Vote Lib/Nat

March 09

Increase the number of troops in Afghanistan

7%

7%

7%

14%

Keep the same number of troops in Afghanistan

24%

25%

32%

24%

Withdraw our troops from Afghanistan

61%

61%

55%

50%

Don’t know

8%

7%

6%

12%

61% of respondents think Australia should withdraw our troops from Afghanistan, 24% think we should keep the same number and 7% think we should increase numbers. Support for withdrawal of troops has increased by 11% since this question was asked in March last year.

There was majority support for withdrawal of troops across all demographic groups and voter types. 55% of Liberal/National voters, 61% of Labor voters and 75% of Greens voters support withdrawal of Australia’s troops.Comments »